Lucas Vermontez was a proud firefighter like his father. Now, not only has he lost his father and his best friend, Zach, in the fire at the Grove Street Homeless Shelter, but the devoted rookie can no longer do the work he loves after being crippled in the tragic event. When friendship with his buddy's beautiful widow turns into more, he wonders what he could possibly offer Jenna.

Jenna Morgan is trying to grieve her husband's death like a proper widow, but the truth is, she never really loved Zach. His death feels more like a relief to her. But that relief is short-lived when she loses her home and the financial support of her in-laws. Now the secrets of her past threaten to destroy her future.

Forever After Discussion Questions: Deborah Raney

1. In Forever After, Jenna Morgan has the difficult task of grieving a husband she never really loved. Have you ever faced a similar situation, feeling the need to pretend grief over someone you’re actually relieved is gone? How did you handle the situation? Did you share this truth with anyone? What was their reaction?

2. Lucas Vermontez feels his life is not worth living if he can’t get back on the firefighting crew. Have you ever been prevented from holding a job or answering a calling you feel you were created for, but for some reason didn’t qualify for? How did you handle it? Were you ultimately able to do that task, or is it something you continue to be denied? In either circumstance, how did that make you feel?

3. Jenna is essentially kicked out onto the street after an argument with her in-laws. Her pride dictates that she spend the night in her car on a freezing night rather than go to the homeless shelter. Would you make the same decision if you had no place to go? What other options might Jenna have explored? Do you think sleeping in her car was a less humiliating choice than going to the homeless shelter? Why or why not?

4. Clarissa Morgan asked Jenna to leave their home because Jenna had chosen to forgive Bryn for her fault in the fire that killed the Morgan’s son. Do you believe Jenna should have honored their request that she avoid Bryn? Or did Jenna owe her friend loyalty and forgiveness even though it went against the wishes of her in-laws? Is blood thicker than water? Is family more important than friends? How do you decide?

5. Jenna grew up poor, and the things she experienced living in relative poverty color the way she looks at life. But marrying into wealth has also changed her view of the world. What traits do these two extremes produce in Jenna, and how do you think she could find balance between the two? How have your financial circumstances––past and present, poverty or wealth––changed the way you view the world? Have you ever gone from one financial extreme to another in a short period of time? How did that experience change you?

6. Lucas has a strong physical attraction to Jenna––one that existed while Jenna was still married to Luc’s best friend (even though Lucas never acted on that attraction while Zach was still alive). Do you think Lucas is justified in feeling guilty about his growing love for Jenna? Why or why not? Is physical attraction and affection a good thing on which to base a relationship? Explain your answer.

7. Conflict arose between Lucas and Jenna because he didn’t like her being estranged from her in-laws (his late friend’s parents). Do you believe he was right to be upset with her to the point of pushing her toward reconciliation? Do any of us have a right or responsibility to request that a close family member or friend reconcile with an enemy?

8. Jenna has kept secret the fact that she had two miscarriages. When she reveals her secret to Lucas, he is upset not only because she’s kept this fact from him, but also because he’s always wanted a large family. If you knew someone you were dating could not give you children, would that change your decision to marry them or not? How did you feel about the way Lucas handled it? When you are in a relationship, how do you decide the right time to reveal similar “secrets” to each other?

9. Forever After deals with the two extremes of wealth and poverty. Discuss the pros and cons of each from a spiritual viewpoint. In your own experience, how does wealth keep you from serving God, or allow you to serve Him better? How might poverty keep you from serving God or allow you to serve Him better? How does one’s financial status affect his place in society? How is it different in the U.S. than in countries where a class or caste system is in place?

10. At the end of the book, Lucas and Jenna have seemingly overcome their conflict and are looking forward to a life together. Given the struggles they’ve been through individually and together, what do you see as potential problem areas in their eventual marriage? If you are married or seriously dating someone, did/do you recognize possible areas of future conflict in your relationship? How can identifying such issues help you deal with them in the future?